‘Cory, FVR, Estrada can run for prime minister’

Former presidents can run as prime minister if the 1987 Constitution is amended and the form of government is changed into a parliamentary system, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel said yesterday.

Pimentel said that under a new form of government, former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Corazon Aquino are not barred from running for prime minister, and this also applies to jailed former President Joseph Estrada, who is now being tried for the capital crime of plunder at the Sandiganbayan.

He said that Estrada remains innocent until proven guilty.

"Under a new form of government, nobody is barred from running as prime minister, unless there will be provisions in the amended Constitution that will bar them from running. But I hope FVR will not run," Pimentel said.

He said that his principal advocacy is for government to be changed into a federal form and members of Congress were not against Constitutional change.

"The House approved Resolution No. 16, which called for a constituent assembly. Meanwhile, 14 senators signed a resolution in January last year seeking to change the Constitution through constitutional convention. That means that the Senate and (House) want to change the Constitution," Pimentel said.

He explained that the Senate and the House were "in disagreement" only on the mode of changing the Constitution.

"The conditions that I set is that once changes in the Constitution are made, there must be no term extension for all elective officials. The overseas Filipino workers should be assured of the right to vote in 2004. We should still elect a president. The right of OFWs to vote should be respected and the adoption of the federal system should be tackled. If these are not met, I’m out of it," Pimentel said.

He disclosed that what the people fear at the moment is that there might be a secret agenda on the part of elective officials in pushing for charter change.

The Senate committee on constitutional amendments chaired by Sen. Edgardo Angara is still conducting hearings on House Resolution No. 16, which seeks to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly.